Seems like tattoos has made their "renaissance" in the last decade. People are tattooing their bodies at a growing rate. Tattoos are good way for self expression, that makes them super popular and more respected. Ivana is a tattoo artists form Trencin, Slovakia. She'll tell us more about her art, her beginnings...

Q: When did you get into this job?
A: It was around 10 years ago.. I just finished school and I wasn’t very sure what am I going to do.. My friend offered me a job in her new shop and since then till now I started to tattoo full time.

Q: Your portfolio is absolutely stunning!! Did you have an artistic background growing up, like a painter etc?
A: I don’t have any art training as such; I draw since I was kid just for my pleasure and I used to do graffiti for fun. I would love to start to paint in future!

       

Q: I've read around the net. You say that you are self-taught tattooer. Is it true? If so, how much time you needed to get into this level?
A: Yes it’s true. I taught myself. Once I tried to make a little tattoo for my friend and feeling I had back then I cannot compare to anything else; I was hooked straight away! It took me years to get into this level, but I’m never satisfied.. I look at tattoo I did yesterday and I would change it today.. My style is changing constantly, but there’s similarity in my work when it comes to colors; a bit of fantasy.. With every tattoo I do I’m learning something new, and the level I’m at right now it’s not definite and never will be.

Q: Is talent relevant for tattoos or is the good tattoo the result of a lot of experience?
A: Both. But I always say if I teach you how to tattoo, you can do it. Everyone can.. But without talent it will never be good enough. Talent makes a big difference between tattooist and tattoo artist.



Q: How has your work developed over the years?
A: It changed a lot! I start with black and grey tattoos and I did this for years! I knew and used only 2 type of needles- 5 liner and 14 round shader. I was working like this for such a long time until I met Joe Capobianco who told me I cannot do colorful tattoos I wanted with those 2 needles. So I started to use magnums and it get me to a completely different level! I was experimenting a lot and till today I’m trying different techniques and tools..



Q: Do you remember your first tattoo done on someone's skin?
A: Yes of course! It was little tribal I did on my friends leg. Feeling I had back then I cannot compare to anything else! I was hooked straight away! So I decided that tattooing is going to be my job pretty much that day. That’s all I wanted to do tomorrow, day after, in weeks time and years.

Q: Which style you find most challenging?
A: Portraits, big Japanese projects .. Stuff I don’t really tattoo- like biomechanical or things which comes from culture I don’t know about. There’s some 'rules' which should be respected and kept and I don’t want to make a disaster.



Q: Your portraits are awesome!! It seems like Photo-realistic tattoos are your specialty. What do you find as most difficult in making photo realistic portrait?
A: It’s proportions.. so it looks more alike to original picture. I don’t want to do a mistake coz’ every different shape will change the whole feel and mimic.. Yet, in photo realistic tattoo I can add something mine and play around with it. It all depends of kind of job I do for a client.

Q: You are extremely talented person. Your tattoo works are great mix of fantasy and realism. Are you always the "main" creator in doing someone's tattoo
A: I like the fusion of people’s fantasies with mine, but the most I like freedom in what I do. I like when someone gives me a little description of what he wants and I can create whatever.. In many cases I’m the main creator.

                             

Q: I guess there were a lot of weird requests, have you ever refused to do someone's tattoo?
A: Many times.. When I disagree with my client; when they want me to do something which I won’t enjoy. When I think that particular picture won’t work on skin.. I want my tattoos to look good in years time, not only next few months. Not everything what looks good on paper will look good on skin.

Q: Your tattoo journey looks like a greeting. How many often do you go on tat conventions and which one left you the most memorable impression?
A: I’m not attending tattoo conventions much.. I go maybe 2-3 times a year.. The one I’m always enjoying is Sydney tattoo expo. I always meet there lots of my friends from Australia and overseas. I also like London tattoo convention. But the most memorable is Berlin tattoo convention I must say.. I didn’t leave my hotel room for four days, but I heard Bob broke his arm.

                                       

Q: Have you ever meet any famous artists during the conventions? Perhaps, your influences?
A: Yes I did! I met lots of my favorites at different tattoo conventions; just to name a few – Gogue, Jo Harrison, Boris, Hernandez, Shige, Volko, Capobianco, Kamil and many many more!

Q: Do you have plans to do a lot of traveling and conventions in 2011? If so, can you give us a rundown of where people will be able to see you and make an appointment with you?
A: Yes, I’m going to do lots of traveling all across.. but In near future I’m not planning to attend any tattoo conventions, I’m going to do only guest spots. From march 2011 you can find me in Outer Limits Tattoo (Los Angeles), in april in Off the Map Tattoo (Easthampton, Massachusetts), in may in Bohemian tattoo Arts (Tauranga, New Zealand)..

 

Q: Nowadays tattoo art has a huge progress. There are so many new great supplies, so many new tattoo techniques that makes tattoos to look like a real paintings etc.. What would be the next?
A: This is true. At the moment there’s so many great supplies, which makes our job even more enjoyable and interesting! I don’t know what’s going to be next in this particular case, but this makes me think and believe people will find better artist to do their tattoos when it comes to quality and artistic feel.

Q: Your other interest outside tattooing is photography. What is your favorite type of photography? Can you make a connection between tattooing and photography?
A: It is just my hobby but I see close connection between tattooing and photography! I use photographs as a references a lot – I do color realism so this is for me necessary! Sometimes I go to take pictures of flowers or animals in nature and this images I’m using for my art. My favorite type of photography is nature, portraits.. but the most I love artistic stuff when it’s mixed with other media like painting etc.. I do like both- black & white and color!

                                

Q: Are they enough inspiring for you?
A: Yes, but for me inspiration is everywhere! I see beauty in so many things around.. It can be anything, really! Last time I saw in Tv this guy wearing such a nice shirt with some lace around his neck and I transferred this design into one of my favorite sleeves (Kat Abdy’s sleeve, see attached photo). It can be all this little ordinary things we don’t notice much.

Q: What is your major excitement in this job? Your best experience, your aims?
A: My freedom! My freedom in what I do, where I go, when I work.. Creativity- I love to join people’s fantasies with mine! My lifestyle. This is what makes it the best experience on it’s own! People I meet, stories I have, things I learn.. I wouldn’t change my job for anything else!

Q: What we can expect from you in the near feature?
A: In near future I’m not planning to attend tattoo conventions as much; I want to do even more guest spots around..
Throughout February 2011 you can find me in Czech republic in Tabasc.o tattoo, Our Future tattoo, Tribo and in UK- in Modern Body Art
In March I suppose to be in Outer Limits Tattoo (Los Angeles), in April I’m hosting in Off the Map Tattoo (Easthampton, Massachusetts), in may in Bohemian tattoo Arts (Tauranga, New Zealand) and in Tattoo Rascal (Slovakia) And I’m planning to go to Ireland, Norway and Brazil in 2011 too!

You can always track me down with more exact information on my facebook (www.facebook.com/spunkytattoo) or check out myspace(www.myspace.com/ivanatattoo)